Notices
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Dentsides Ford Truck
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Moser

75 ford 360 engine swap

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 07:08 PM
  #1  
bigtrucks1's Avatar
bigtrucks1
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
75 ford 360 engine swap

i am new to this fte thing. i recently bought two trucks. the first was a 75 f250 and it had a 360 motor in it with the old granny gear in it. the other truck was a 77 f150 that had a worn out 302 and a junk c4 auto in it. my intensions are to scrap the 75 coz it was beyond fixing. also i wanted to rebuild the the 360 and drop it in the 77 and convert it to the granny gear.

i was hopeing that someone out there might have some ideas that i could do to that 360 to try and squeeze more power and torque out of it. i would like it to have more torque coz i am going to use it to tow my horse trailer to differnt trail rides. so if anybody out there can help i would realy be thankfull.
 
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2009 | 07:52 PM
  #2  
Bullitt390's Avatar
Bullitt390
Certified Thread Hijacker
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
Club FTE Silver Member

So you're rebuilding it? Or just want to add some cool parts?

Rebuild: Aquire a 390 crank and rods and turn your engine into a 390. With the heads, machine them for CJ sized valves. Pocket port the bowls and blend the exhaust port hump.

Parts: Aluminum intake, either Edelbrock, Blue Thunder or Ford Police Interceptor, 4 barrel carb (whatever your poison, Holley or AFB) a mild cam for low end grunt, headers.

I'll come up with a list of cams if you tell me exactly what you want out of it. Idle quality, max RPM, no maintenance or periodic valve adjustment etc.

Josh
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 08:37 AM
  #3  
bigtrucks1's Avatar
bigtrucks1
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
i am looking for mostly torque out of that 360 i would realy like it to have at least 335 horsepower and 380 torque but i dont want the engine to rev up high maybe to 4500 5000 rpm were hopefully it will reach top torque and horse power.
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 08:41 AM
  #4  
bigtrucks1's Avatar
bigtrucks1
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
i am looking to rebuild it and give it new life. it has been in a snow plow truck since new.
i would like to squeeze 340 horse and 380 torque out of it. rpm topping 4500 to 5000
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 02:51 PM
  #5  
Bullitt390's Avatar
Bullitt390
Certified Thread Hijacker
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
Club FTE Silver Member

I would still look for a 390 crank and rods and then aquire some 9.0-9.5:1 pistons.

A Comp cams 270S is a very nice cam for low end grunt and some top end pep as well. It is a solid lifter cam, so it would require adjusting the valves about once a year. A comp cams 270H is the hydraulic version, basically the same mannerisms, but slightly less torque and horsepower.

My poison has always been Crane Cams, but they have changed hands recently and who knows what is going on there. There are other companies such as Crower, Oregon Cams, but my personal opinion is to stick with Comp and their reputation and warranty.

You'll still need a 4 barrel intake, a decent carburetor and recommended headers to make the combination gel together.

Josh
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 02:59 PM
  #6  
85e150's Avatar
85e150
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,475
Likes: 2,800
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by bigtrucks1
i am looking for mostly torque out of that 360 i would realy like it to have at least 335 horsepower and 380 torque but i dont want the engine to rev up high maybe to 4500 5000 rpm were hopefully it will reach top torque and horse power.
Check the FE forums. Everyone with a worn out 360 wants to make an improvement. For the power you are talking, a 360 is hopeless. It has a very low compression ratio, and a below deck piston height. Both are proven power killers. Unless you get custom pistons at $100 each, no high compression pistons are to be had.

The 390 crank and rods with the proper oversize 360 pistons (you will probably need to go .030 over) will give you 9 to 9.5 CR, depending on heads.

Heads are another decision. Old heads needing a rebuild can run up into new aftermarket head territory cost wise. Shop around.

As for the rest, see the previous posts and the FE forums.

Good luck with it.
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 03:22 PM
  #7  
Bullitt390's Avatar
Bullitt390
Certified Thread Hijacker
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
Club FTE Silver Member

www.fordfe.com is the only place to go for Ford FE questions.

Josh
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 10:39 AM
  #8  
bigtrucks1's Avatar
bigtrucks1
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
i have decided to give up on the idea on trying to build the 360 into something its not. what motor would any body out there would give me the torque and horse power that i am looking for.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 12:39 PM
  #9  
bulletsneverlie's Avatar
bulletsneverlie
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
A build a 460 or a 351w. The horsepower you want is just outside of "easy and cheap". The 460 only came with 220hp stock when it was efi. A '69 390 was closer to the power you want, but you'd still need a rebuild. That's what these guys are trying to tell you.

The late '80s/early '90s 351w Efi is my favorite, followed by the '69 era 360/390. The 351w didn't come stock with enough power at all, until they switched to EFI.

These are the motors I'm looking at, for availability and price, and mileage:

302 efi: 185hp, 270tq
351w efi: 210hp, 315tq
triton 4.6 220hp, 280tq (better gas mileage though)

The 351w EFI is the obvious choice. Go to a scrap yard and get the engine, trans, harness, ECU and the cluster. As for the trans, I like the 5 speed mtx.

If you want to keep the carb, build your 360 to a 390 because you already have it, but don't be so hung up on power. The best mudder I've ever seen was a 90hp worn out '79 Hilux on 38s.

If you just want to pour cash into something and have billions of horse powers, get a 460 and build it. I've seen what the 351w efi can do, and I'm sold on it.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 01:26 PM
  #10  
Bullitt390's Avatar
Bullitt390
Certified Thread Hijacker
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
Club FTE Silver Member

Not exactly sure what you want. You want to give up turning your 360 into a sweet 390, when all you need is a crank and rods. Which can be had for under $50 all day long in the junkyard or Ebay.

Swapping a 460 will require: engine, transmission, perches, mounts and more various odd and ends. A lot more than $50.

Same goes for a 302/351.

Maybe I don't understand what you want. I thought you wanted to rebuild your engine and at the same time gain some power.

Do you just want bolt-on parts and no rebuild?

Josh
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 02:02 PM
  #11  
bulletsneverlie's Avatar
bulletsneverlie
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
I think he might have got turned off to the 360/390 because everyone is always talking about how obsolete the Fe is, and how much of a dog it can be. While that is true, it makes the power and it's a great work horse. Hard to kill 'em. I'd say the 360/390 is just fine, and of course it's bad on gas, it makes a lot of power for a carbureted engine. If you tune a rice burner up, the gas mileage goes out the window.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 02:31 PM
  #12  
bigtrucks1's Avatar
bigtrucks1
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
may be i am just jumping the gun a little bit on dumping the 360 i was just trying to see what my options were and if they were practical to what i want to do with it.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 02:47 PM
  #13  
85e150's Avatar
85e150
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,475
Likes: 2,800
Club FTE Gold Member
The 360, as issued, is not going to get near the power. The 390--which the 360 is just waiting to be turned into--will approach those levels without much work. A 410, again, crank, rods, pistons, will make lots of low end torque even if you go budget on the heads etc.

An FE is a good platform, and will make great power. The best feature is that it is in your truck and everthing fits--no "non-performance" money needs to be spent on mounts, transmissions, cooling, accessory mounts etc.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 04:44 PM
  #14  
bigtrucks1's Avatar
bigtrucks1
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
is there any difference between the 390 and the 410 i dont want to sound dumb with this i am learning as i go. what for stuff could i do to the stock heads
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 04:51 PM
  #15  
Bullitt390's Avatar
Bullitt390
Certified Thread Hijacker
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
Club FTE Silver Member

390 and 410 use different cranks.

With the heads, machine them for CJ sized valves. Pocket port the bowls and blend the exhaust port hump.

Josh
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:23 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE